PIAGGIO BV 200 / 250 / 300 / 500 - OWNER REVIEWS

2003 PIAGGIO BV 200Milage: 1000 - 5000 MilesLikes: Love the bike rides good, like your sailing through the windDislikes: The digital display - it should have a choice of Km or mileReview: ”Nice to ride good in handling I give a 99%.”

2003 PIAGGIO BV 200Milage: 10,000 - 20,000 MilesLikes: Reliability, economy, enough speed for occasional freeway travel at 60-70 mph.Dislikes: No tie points for bungee cords if you want to lash something onto the scooter.Review: ”Have owned since I bought "new used" at 1,100 miles. This scooter has been rock-solid for 10,000 miles of city errands, commuting, and fun riding. Starts, stops, runs great; I still have tread on the original tires. Typical mileage is 50-55 in town; longer rides at higher speeds increase that to about 60. Simple maintenance; I've never had to spend much more than $125 for occasional oil change/plug swap/CVT adjustment.

A terrific little bike, dependable and simple, with adequate storage; with a tall after-market windshield, it offers very good weather protection. Too bad Piaggio decided to go with American lust for power; the 200-250 cc size is really perfect for a city runabout, with enough power for short highway use. This is a great little bike, if you find one that's not been abused.”2006 PIAGGIO BV500Milage: 5000 - 10,000 MilesLikes: Top speed, glove box, sveltness (no maxi-scooter bulk)Dislikes: Wind deflection could be betterReview: “The large wheeled look isn't for everybody, but it has its advantages (traveling between lanes at freeway speeds is a much smoother ride). The drawback is slightly less storage capacity in under seat storage capacity. I really like the lack of bulk on this scooter. It helps when splitting traffic (traveling between lanes when traffic is moving at less than 30 mph in CA). The downside is the lack of wind protection on ones legs when moving in the plus 50mph range.My gas mileage has been in the 60 - 65 mpg range. Very impressive given the speeds this machine is capable of. I routinely hit 85mph plus with no fuss from the engine whatsoever.Build quality is top notch. Everything has remained tight and sturdy as the miles roll on by. I have enjoyed this scooter far more than I do my Helix or Elite 250 (due mainly to its higher speed capabilities). My only complaint is that of wind deflection to my lower body parts at freeway speeds. Everything else is simply superb.”

2006 PIAGGIO BV500 (BEVERLY TOURING)Milage: 1000 - 5000 MilesLikes: Great highway performance, Brembo brakes, Decent mileageDislikes: No self cancelling turn signals, No real provision for MP3 playerReview: “I really love this scooter. Mine came with the optional saddlebags and trunk. It's great on the freeway, and can do 99 mph.

The bigger wheels make for a more stable ride. It's not a Burgman or Silverwing, so you ride more upright. I bought a mid-sized GIVI windscreen, and it does a good job diverting the air and slightly improved my fuel mileage. If you are looking for a bargain in a large size scooter, these can be found for around $4000 used.When shopping for a scooter, be able to describe how you will use it. If you just want something for around town, this scooter might be too large. If you plan on being on any road/expressway/freeway where the speed is above 55, I would buy this. If you are new to riding, and just got your license, a smaller unit might suit you better.”2007 PIAGGIO BV250Milage: 5000 - 10,000 MilesLikes: Comfort, Acceleration, Brakes, Passenger Comfort, Top speed, Style, Build Quality.Dislikes: Underseat storageReview: “Recently bought a used 2007 BV250 with a little over 7,000 miles. The shop I bought it at was a 2 hour interstate drive away from my house. I was nervous at first driving that distance on I80 (70mph speed limit), but the BV250 handled it like a champ. I had no problem keeping up with traffic moving at 75mph, and still had a little left to get out of the way of semis. The wind beat me up quite a bit though.

I use the scooter as a commuter for my 20 minute drive to and from work on a 55mph highway. The 16" wheels handle the rough roads with ease. So far I am getting about 60mpg on my commute. Overall I am very happy with this scooter. It fits my needs perfectly. I'd recommend this scooter to anyone who needs a commuter that can regularly travel on highways.”

2007 PIAGGIO BV500Milage: 1000 - 5000 MilesLikes: Perfect if you need an all around scooter that can handle city traffic or extended highway runsDislikes: Original Piaggio accessories hard to find.Review: “This is an outstanding maxi-scooter. Semi classic scooter styling married with a 500cc engine and larger wheels. This scooter will easily cruise at highway speeds yet is nimble enough for an urban environment. The larger wheels help manage pot holes and road bumps better than smaller wheeled scooters. Seating is comfortable but can be a bit mushy on long runs if not stiffened up.

The only downsides are 1: the under seating storage is limited (but like every Piaggio it has a hook for groceries) and 2: don't expect scooter gas milage. This is a 500cc scooter which consumes gas and moves as such. About 45mpg on mine.”

2012 PIAGGIO BV 300Milage: 0 - 1000 MilesLikes: Everything....Great power, Good handling and great on the highway.Dislikes: No parking brake, MPG so far is not as high as advertised.Review: “I just sold an 08 Suzuki Burgman 650 because it was too large for NYC. I bought the 2012 BV 300 hoping that it would be easier to ride and park around the city and so far it has been great.

I wanted another scooter small enough but big to be able to go on the highway and the 300 does that. Having 16 inch wheels really helps and it has more than enough power. I could have bought a smaller scooter for the city but they don’t have 16 inch tires so that was one of the reasons for buying the BV and the other reason was engine size. You need good power to go on the highway and the 300 does not disappoint. Overall a great scooter - very attractive, reliable and efficient.”2013 PIAGGIO BV 350Milage: 0 - 1000 MilesLikes: Power, handling, comfort, storage, styling.Dislikes: Seat could be more comfortable. Step in the middle locks the rider in one place, but the step is removable. Haven't tried that yet.Review: “I've only put about 300 mile on it, but I love it! I ride a big Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad on long trips. I love it, too. But it's too big for those short trips to the store or the post office or just to go for a ride on a brilliant day. I wanted something like the CB 350 Honda I had when I was young: light, agile, fun. I've got it now in the BV 350. Light, powerful, maneuverable, fun. I'm a really big man, and it hauls me around in relative comfort and it really hauls! Best MPG so far--59, and it's not even broken in. The most fun you can have and remain dressed!”2013 PIAGGIO BV 350Milage: 0 - 1000 MilesLikes: Wonderful acceleration, smooth ride, good suspension, even for a big guy, handing, it's the bomb!Dislikes: Seat could be more comfortable (I'm considering removing the little hump), more foot room.Review: “I ride a big motorcycle much of the time. And I love it. But I was missing the joy and excitement of two-wheeled riding that I experienced in my younger days, with great bikes that were light, relatively powerful and fun to ride. I thought of a Triumph Bonneville, and some other smaller bikes. But then I tried some scooters--a Vespa GTV 300--fun, nice, a little small for me, and with the small wheels, quite nervous at higher speeds. So I tried a BV 350. Wow! Faster than the Vespa, rides like a motorcycle, nice and stable, a really smooth CVT transmission and engine. Endlessly entertaining, and I could see myself, with a top box, heading across country on it. The biggest drawback is seat comfort. This scooter has brought back the thrills of my 2-wheeled youth. I love it! And so far I've gotten a high of 59 mpg.“

2013 PIAGGIO 350 BVMilage: 0 - 1000 MilesLikes: Almost everything about this scooterDislikes: Throttle is a little jerky at slow speeds.Review: “Purchased the BV350 about 3 weeks ago and have had nothing but fun. It takes the freeway like it owns it. The back roads are just nothing for this scooter. The balance is just the best taking corners is so much fun. I look forward to years of pleasure ridding this wonderful machine.”

2014 PIAGGIO BV 350Milage: 0 - 1000 MilesLikes: Everything except the seatDislikes: I removed that stupid hump and it makes a world of difference. Just have to figure out how to cover the holes without getting the whole seat recovered.Review: “My last scooter was an Aprilia 250 Sportcity, 2009 model. Put over 16 thousand miles on it in three years and loved every mile. This thing was a little hotrod. Decided to move up to a BV 350 when I could find on priced right. Found a new 2014 model for $4899. That is a killer deal. This thing is a dream machine. It really is more like a motorcycle than a scooter. Smooth, fast and incredibly good looking. (with that stupid hump gone).”

2014 PIAGGIO BV 350Milage: 5000 - 10,000 MilesLikes:Speed, handling, quiet, smoothDislikes: Reliability (it sputters and stalls sometimes, major engine failure at 10,000 kms?) Waiting for dealer to figure out what happened.Review: “Performance wise, it has been a great bike. After 1 year of ownership, I have had a rash of small problems with the bike and now, a major engine problem. Did I just get unlucky?”

2014 PIAGGIO BV 350Milage: 1000 - 5000Likes:Performance, handling, looks, storage, passenger comfortDislikes: Seat could be betterReview: “I have put around 1500 miles on the BV350 since I bought it. Very nice ride and the quality and finish seem really good so far. I had one issue with the electrics that was fixed under warranty after the scooter cut out suddenly in the middle of a major intersection. Other than that it has been reliable. It has an all-round solid feel to it and I really like the look and aesthetics - especially the profile view.

The one thing I am not thrilled about is the seat. I have the 2015 model with the new seat and it is a little restrictive. There is no removable hump now either. I would much prefer if the contour (hump) in the seat was more gradual and allowed you to slide back on the seat. It is the one gripe in an otherwise perfect package. It's not too big, plenty of power, highway capable, fun to ride, good for storage and passenger. It pretty much hit's all the right notes.Before this I had a Sportcity 250 which I also loved. I have to say the BV350 is more refined and an overall better package than the Sportcity, but the Sportcity was a really fun little scooter and the seat was more comfortable for me. Overall though the BV350 is a nice step up from the Sportcity or Vespa equivalent!”

2016 PIAGGIO BV350Milage: 5000 - 10,000Likes:Power, handling, looks, comfort, brakesDislikes: Filling fuel tank is slow or messy, take your pick. Even more power please. Even less weight please.Review: “Bought this scoot new when it was clear that it was the best of the middleweight scoot's (pre-XMAX). If I was in the market now, I'd have to compare the BV against the XMAX.The smooth, quiet power is wonderful. Handling is great. Brakes are ABS and powerful. Traction control has saved me once already.